77: Chapter 77 Five Talents

"Brother Qing~ distribute the fruits first!"

An Mumu was practically hanging off Lin Qing, her almond eyes shining brightly as she stared at the seven Talent Fruits on the table.

Vibrant light flowed across the fruit skins, casting shifting shadows and reflections on the girls' faces.

Su Xixi leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, but her slightly leaning body betrayed her anticipation.

Shen Zhiyi clutched the corner of her shirt and involuntarily took half a step forward.

These seven fruits were the only chance for these talentless girls to change their fate.

"What's the rush? Yours isn't running away."

Lin Qing pushed away An Mumu's leaning head and turned his hand to reveal a deep black crystal.

Inside the crystal, a galaxy swirled, deep and bottomless.

"Mo Lingxue, come over here."

Following Lin Qing's summons, dark fog churned on the yinshen skeleton gate, and Mo Lingxue stepped out, her beast ears perking up alertly.

Her gaze locked straight onto that star core.

That was the "dowry" her father, the king, had given her.

"Master..."

Lin Qing flicked his finger, sending the star core flying in an arc.

Mo Lingxue caught it with both hands, feeling its sudden weight. She pressed the star core tightly against her chest; that heavy feeling was her sole stepping stone toward entering the Legendary grade.

"Do you know how to refine it?"

"Yes!" Mo Lingxue bowed her head, a trace of a tremble in her voice. "I will never waste what Master fought to get for me."

"Refine it inside the contract space. It'll be thirty percent faster."

Mo Lingxue's black hair fell forward, hiding the surging emotions in her eyes. She stole a glance at Lin Qing.

"I'll come out as soon as possible."

With those words, black fog enveloped her figure, sinking into the space between Lin Qing's brows.

"Now it's finally our turn, right?" An Mumu slapped the table impatiently.

"It is."

Lin Qing raised his hand, causing the seven Talent Fruits to levitate.

"The first five are for those who haven't awakened a talent. Based on merit and level, does anyone have an objection?"

The hall was completely silent.

In the battle in the forest, everyone had seen who risked their lives on the front line and who slacked off in the back.

"The sixth and seventh fruits will be used to reinforce our core combat power."

"Then I definitely get one!" An Mumu immediately raised her hand.

Su Xixi snorted coldly. "When you rushed forward, your mouth didn't stop moving either."

"That's called tactical taunting, get it?"

Lin Qing didn't bother with their bickering. He picked up the first fruit, glowing with silver light, and handed it to Su Xixi.

"Yours."

Su Xixi froze, not taking it. "Really giving it to me?"

"Nonsense. Aside from Bai Nian and me, you have the highest level. Who else would I give it to?"

Su Xixi swallowed hard before reaching out to take it, lowering her head to take a bite.

The fruit flesh melted in her mouth.

Buzz!

Silver light exploded from inside her. The dagger at her waist unsheathed half an inch with a clang, emitting a low, bloodthirsty hum.

[Talent Awakening Successful!]

[S-Rank Talent: Soul-Hunting Extraction]

[Upon killing a target, you may select one of the target's abilities to extract and claim as your own.]

[Initial Extraction Uses: 2]

Su Xixi's gaze was fixed dead onto the panel, forgetting to breathe.

"Killing a target lets me steal one of its abilities?"

"Yes." Lin Qing's eyes lit up as well. "The Earth Armored Turtle's 'Absolute Defense', the Berserk Orc's 'Rock Armor', the Black Sea Phantom's 'Insubstantiality'... the upper limit of this talent depends on who you kill."

He lowered his voice. "Save these two opportunities. They must be used on Epic-rank or even Rule-based Beings."

Su Xixi closed her panel.

She raised her chin, pressing her tongue against the inside of her cheek, her smile dripping with eager intent to kill.

"I'll listen to you."

Lin Qing chuckled. "My good bro really spoils me."

Su Xixi's ears flushed hot as she turned her face away quietly. "Shut up! Next fruit!"

Lin Qing waved his hand, and the second fruit landed precisely in An Mumu's hands.

She raised her chin proudly at Su Xixi. "See that? No matter how much you spoil Brother Qing, he still loves me the most."

Before her words even faded, she had already taken a bite of the fruit.

Intricate light-gold patterns spread out from under her feet.

[S-Rank Talent: Pet Charming]

[Pet Slot: Can establish a unique Master relationship with a Charm, obtaining 50% of the Charm's base attribute projection.]

[Charm Slot: When engaging in intimate contact with the Pet, both parties gain a boost to base attributes.]

[Please select the target for the Charm Slot.]

An Mumu raised her face without hesitation, her eyes sparkling with charm, her voice alluring yet firm.

"Lin Qing."

A light screen popped up in front of Lin Qing.

[An Mumu requests to form a Charm Pact with you.]

"If I sign, you will become my subordinate," Lin Qing looked at her and said.

An Mumu's smile deepened. "As long as it helps you, I'm more than willing."

"Alright."

With a thought, Lin Qing confirmed.

Boom!

Golden light halos exploded beneath their feet.

Lin Qing's massive base attributes surged into An Mumu's body along the contract!

Her aura rose steadily, her Strength and Constitution skyrocketing. At her lower abdomen, an eerie black tattoo emerged beneath her skin.

"How do you feel?" Lin Qing asked.

Feeling the unprecedented power in her body, An Mumu raised her face, pulled Lin Qing's arm into her embrace, and announced publicly:

"Extremely good."

"From now on, I am officially domesticated by Brother Qing, exclusive system certification, got it?"

"I think you just want me to test the first slash of 'Soul-Hunting Extraction' on you!" Su Xixi's blade was unsheathed half an inch, its edge reflecting her icy face.

"Aiya, Brother Xi! Don't be so fierce," An Mumu immediately let go and raised her hands.

Su Xixi glared at her, snorted coldly, and slid the blade back into its sheath.

The two girls finished their playful bickering.

Lin Qing handed the third fruit to Shen Zhiyi.

Surprise flashed across her face.

Yet her hands nervously twisted the hem of her shirt, without reaching out.

"I... I get one too?"

"Of course!" Lin Qing looked at Shen Zhiyi's blushing face. "That Goblin extending its neck earlier—you smashed it off-course with a stick and saved me. Having the guts to strike at a moment like that is a skill in itself."

He placed the fruit into her palm. "Eat it."

Shen Zhiyi bit into the fruit, and jade-green vitality energy surrounded her.

[A-Rank Talent: Life Recovery]

[Can recover injuries, stamina, and physical depletion.]

Shen Zhiyi looked up at Lin Qing and said earnestly, "If you ever get hurt in the future, call me first."

"Alright."

Su Xixi crossed her arms. "He'd better not give you that chance."

But An Mumu picked up on a key point. "Eh... depletion? What kind of depletion?"

Shen Zhiyi lowered her head with a blushing face, staying silent.

Lin Qing flicked An Mumu's forehead. Only then did she quiet down.

Next was the fourth fruit. Lin Qing handed it to Zeng Yulin, who was holding an iron hammer.

"Lin Qing, I won't take this for nothing!" She didn't act coy, swallowing it in one gulp as an earthy yellow glow sank into the ground.

[A-Rank Talent: Heavy Pressure Stacking Strikes]

[Each hit against a target stacks a layer of Heavy Pressure. At ten stacks, ignore 70% of physical defense, dealing extra damage to structures and bones.]

"From now on, I'll specialize in smashing the hard stuff." Zeng Yulin looked at An Muxi.

An Muxi nodded. "Alright, I'll craft you a better hammer."

The fifth fruit went to Liu Shiyu, who carried a short crossbow on her back.

[A-Rank Talent: Hunter's Mark]

[Can mark target weaknesses, increasing allies' attack damage by 30%. The mark cannot be dispelled.]

Lin Qing's eyes brightened. "All the team's shortcomings are patched up." He looked at Liu Shiyu. "Shiyu, from now on, your mark is the trumpet call for focused fire."

The sixth fruit landed in front of Bai Nian.

Bai Nian took half a step back. "Give it to the other sisters. My Combat Mastery is enough."

"The sixth fruit is for core reinforcement."

Lin Qing didn't pull back his hand. "You can fight, but you're not strong enough!"

He stuffed the fruit into her palm, his voice leaving no room for doubt.

Bai Nian hesitated no longer. "Alright!"

[A-Rank Talent detected: Combat Mastery]

[This talent meets the advancement conditions.]

[Consume a Talent Fruit to attempt advancement?]

Lin Qing looked at her and said just one word:

"Eat."